Former Louisville recruit Brian Bowen sues Adidas over scandal damage

Brian Bowen, playing with the Australian league's Sydney Kings, drives the baseline around Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams during the third quarter at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.(Photo: Darryl Oumi, Getty Images)

Less than a month after a federal jury found three men guilty of wire fraud for trying to steer basketball stars to schools sponsored by Adidas, former University of Louisville recruit Brian Bowen has filed a racketeering suit against the international sportswear company and six of its associates.

Bowen, the McDonald’s All-American who was the highest-profile prospect in Rick Pitino’s last recruiting class at Louisville, was prevented from playing college basketball amid allegations that his signing was induced by a promise of $100,000 in violation of NCAA rules.

Currently competing for the Sydney Kings in Australia’s National Basketball League, Bowen is seeking unspecified damages. The case was filed in U.S. District Court in South Carolina by the Carolina-based McLeod law firm and names Adidas executive James Gatto, co. As part of its complaint, the firm also seeks to enjoin Adidas from sponsoring men's basketball programs.

“Adidas has thus far infiltrated college basketball with complete impunity," the firm's statement said. "It is now time for them to answer for what they have done and to suffer the consequences of their corporate misconduct. Brian is an exceptional young man who is determined to right this wrong and to do his part to help free other student athletes from corporate corruption that has no place in college basketball.”

Miami-based attorney Jason A. Setchen, who represented Brian throughout his proceedings with the University of Louisville and the NCAA, said, “I have always felt that Brian was the true victim of everything that transpired with Adidas. Brian has been severely damaged due to the actions of others and treated unjustly. I am happy that the McLeod Law Group has undertaken the pursuit of justice on behalf of Brian. I look forward to working in conjunction with them to ensure that Brian finally gets his day in court.”

Bowen’s father, Brian Sr., has admitted to accepting payments from numerous sources as an inducement to get his son to play for specific high school and AAU teams as well as Louisville. He has maintained, however, that his son was unaware of those transactions.

““I mean, I don’t want him to be involved in something that’s wrong or something like that,” the father testified. “. . .I still think my son is a victim, and I always will.”

Bowen attorney Colin Ram has been pushing a similar narrative. Last month, Ram shared a link to a New York Times story that characterized the younger Bowen as being in Australia “instead of embarking on a traditional basketball career path in college, bearing the brunt of the punishment for adults behaving badly.”

Adidas executive Jim Gatto, company consultant Merl Code and aspiring agent Christian Dawkins are scheduled to be sentenced on March 5 for their roles in the bribery scheme. After their guilty verdicts were announced on Oct. 24, Adidas issued a statement pledging to "work with the NCAA and other stakeholders in a collaborative and constructive manner to improve the environment around college basketball."

Earlier, the company succeeded in having Pitino's lawsuit dismissed on the basis that his contract called for his claims to be addressed out of court through arbitration.

Bowen has played in eight games for the Sydney Kings, averaging 7.1 points per game while attempting to distance himself from the federal case in which he was a central figure.

“I’ve just tried to take things day by day and really try to not worry about the other stuff,” he told SydneyKings.com. “Whatever is happening over there is happening, but I’m just trying to focus on other things here I can truly handle and control.”

Kings coach Andrew Gaze told the team web site that Bowen arrived as a “mystery,” but that he has been pleased with his skill set and his progress.

“He’s prepared to listen, he’s got a good work ethic he picks up instructions well and I think he’s got a very good basketball IQ,” Gaze said. “His athleticism and his innate skills are there for all to see, but I think it’s those other assets that he has that will be the determining factor if he continues to grow with us and then ultimately achieves his goal of making the NBA.”

Before the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York revealed evidence of an alleged $100,000 payment scheme designed to deliver Bowen to Louisville, his surprise commitment was attributed to the opportunity that developed when Donovan Mitchell declared for the NBA Draft.

Bowen would never play for Louisville. He was suspended from all team activities on Sept. 27, 2017, a day after the U.S. Attorney’s announcement about recruiting irregularities resulted in Pitino and Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich being placed on administrative leave.

Bowen subsequently transferred to the University of South Carolina, but would declare for the NBA Draft after the NCAA ruled that he would be ineligible for at least the 2018-19 season.

After failing to impress pro scouts following his long layoff, Bowen withdrew from the draft and signed on for a season in Australia. Eligible now for the 2019 draft, Bowen is projected as a mid second-round selection by both NBADraft.net and Draftsite.com.